Tour Crew: Lighting Engineer; Tech (Lighting)

1974-1979

Artists/Tours: Black Oak Arkansas (1974); Mountain (1974); Uriah Heep; ZZ Top; Average White Band (U.S. and European tours); Wings (1976 U.S. tour); Gino Vannelli; Carole King; Maria Muldaur; Columbia Records conventions

​

Still in the Industry

​

1993-2000+

Transportation 1970s | First female truck driver, drove for Bee Gees, Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, Bad Company, etc. | “Best friends with Joyce Dugger.”

Site coordinator

Tour Crew: Lighting

Tour Crew: Vice President (Showco); Executive VP International Ops (Vari-Lite); Tour Manager; Production Accountant; Personal Manager

1970-1974/1982-1998

Still in the Industry

Musician: David Alley & The Brass Tacks

Tour Crew: FOH Engineer; Monitor Engineer; Tech (Audio)

1986-2000

Started his career at Showco in 1986, touring globally in roles including FOH, monitors, systems engineer and crew chief. After Clair Brothers acquired Showco in 2000, he continued carrying on the Showco tradition.

Artists/Tours: Willie Nelson; Diana Ross; Beach Boys; Rolling Stones; George Michael; Bon Jovi; Alice in Chains; Godsmack; Vince Gill; Reba McEntire; LMFAO; The Highwaymen; Alan Jackson; Luke Bryan; Ozzy Osbourne; Ozzfest; Alanis Morissette; Eric Clapton; Genesis; Korn; Kiss; Destiny's Child; Beyoncé; Kingdom Come; Steve Winwood; Christina Aguilera; Shakira; N.W.A.; Miranda Lambert; Usher; Soundgarden; Luther Vandross; Green Day; Skinny Puppy; Bob Seger; The Who; Boston; Alice Cooper; Jonas Brothers; Motörhead; Frank Sinatra; Liza Minnelli; Sammy Davis Jr.

Still in the Industry: Audio Tech at the Overture Center

1977

Accounting

1979-1982

1976-1977

​

Role(s): Lighting

1978

George Benson, Dave Mason – He joined the tour in Pittsburg, PA in '78 to replace someone who got sick. Last show of tour in '78 in South Bend, IN. Alice Cooper - '78, AC/DC opening act Willie Nelson. Bob Welch opening act David Bowie - 1979 - Linda Ronstadt – The BeeGees –The Jacksons. 1980 - Weather Report - Willie Nelson - Genesis - Commodores – Mary Kay - The Kinks - Blondie and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers opening act Black Sabbath - Van Halen opening act - Richard Pryor. 1981 Dirk went to Showlites.

Office: Travel

​

Musician: The Beef Boy Experience

Monitors

1982-1987

Office: Accounting

1979-1984

1972-1977

Tour Crew (Showco)

1974-1985

Lighting designer

Credits include major tours and film/documentary work (see end credits for The Last Waltz). Wishbone Ash; Bad Company; Bee Gees (World Tour); Michael Jackson (Victory Tour); The Last Waltz (farewell show at Winterland Ballroom; end credits); Sweet Virginia

1976-1977

1987-1993

Monitors

Cable Department

1993-2000

Great to be part of something special and remembers the family atmosphere. Procedures and values learned then are still used today. Now manager for Clair Backline in Lititz.

Still in the Industry

Audio/Shop

1981–1984

Started in the business with Showco (Commodores), never gave it up. I closed my live stage experience doing back line with Jonas productions (Gladys Knight) out of Indiana. Writing songs all the while.

Commodores-1981 Stage Tech- Saga1982-Crew- Gap Band1982 Stage Tech- Kool And The Gang-1982-83- James Taylor/Linda Ronstadt-1983-Stage Tech- US Fest-1983-Crew-

Rick James-Cold Blooded Tour-1983- Van Halen-What The F**K Tour USA/SouthAmerica-1983-84-Stage Tech- Santana-1987-Crew

• Still in the Industry

​

Vari-Lite

Tour Crew: Monitor Mix; Sound Systems Engineer

1984-1990

Still in the Industry: Chief Audio Engineer, University of Memphis Commencement Services

Audio tech

​

​

​

1974

​

Audio Engineer

1974-2003

Beach Boys; Ozzy Osbourne; ZZ Top (’90 and more); Deep Purple; Willie Nelson; Average White Band; Bad Company; Steve Miller Band; Genesis (And Then There Were Three); Alice Cooper; The Osmonds; George Benson; Weather Report; Bee Gees; Marvin Gaye; Blues Brothers; Rick James; War; Vince Gill; + more

Driver/Rigger

1981

Now President of Production and Rigging Resources, Inc. (rigging equipment, riggers, stagehands, trucking, and soft goods for the entertainment industry).

1974-1976

​

Tour Crew: Tech (Lighting)

1978-1984

After a call from Dusty Hudgins, who was touring Europe with Genesis, offered to arrange an interview, Paul moved to Dallas, interviewed with Kirby and got the job.

Artists/Tours: The O'Jays; Brothers Johnson; Peter Gabriel; New Barbarians; Bee Gees; Parliament-Funkadelic; Karla Bonoff; Rufus and Chaka Khan; Blues Brothers; Eddie Money; ZZ Top; Van Halen; Willie Nelson; Hall & Oates; Al Jarreau; US Festivals; KISS; plus 18 tours with Showlites

Office: Manufacturing

Engineer; Developer of Vari-Lite

1971-2000

​

​

1977

1973

Vari-Lite / Staff: Tech (Lighting)

1984-1992

Artists/Tours: Alice Cooper; The Fixx; Simple Minds; Stryper; Genesis; Oak Ridge Boys; Sheena Easton; Mike + The Mechanics; Luther Vandross; Whitney Houston

1977-1980

​

​

​

1976

Tour Crew: Touring

1980-1990

Carole King; Beach Boys; Living Colour; Andrew Dice Clay; Paul McCartney; Milli Vanilli; INXS; Dream Theater

Still in the Industry: Pivot Event Dynamics

Tour Crew: Lighting

1979–1986

​

1971-1973

Owner

1970-2000

1989-2000

​

1976

1975-2000+

Office

1981-1989

​

Lighting Engineer

1976-1980

1975

Monitors

1976

Still in the Industry

1976-1977

SHOWCO Founder; JNC Management; Soul City Nightclub; Syncrolite

1960s–1980s

​

1981-1990

Staff: Showco Creative Services and IGNITION! Creative Group; Project Coordinator and Technical Director

1982-2001

As Technical Director, assessed and determined technical requirements for large-scale events during concept design and development. Collaborated with producers to ensure the client's vision was achievable within technical needs, budget, venues and schedule. Responsible for technical operations including scenic, staging, audio, video, lighting, rigging and labor.

Artists/Events: Mary Kay Inc.; Kawasaki Dealer Showcase

Manufacturing

1979-1981

Tour Crew: Audio

1977-1979

1977 - 1980 Showco

1981 - 2000 Vari-Lites

Freddie King, The Commodores, KC & the Sunshine Band, Thin Lizzy, Toto, The Kinks, O'Jays, Phoebe Snow, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Nazareth, and more.

1982-1985

1978-1980

Shop/Bench

1994 - 2000

Worked in the shop prepping/building racks for tours and training new interns before they went on tour. Came from a regional sound company in San Antonio; responded to a Pro Sound News ad and spoke with Lester Burton; visited Dallas and met Lester, Ken "The Dood" Hergenrader, and Richard Bratcher; hired on the spot.

Remembers being amazed by the scale of Showco’s gear and knew it was the right place to work. | “I was working for a regional sound company in San Antonio when I came upon a Showco ad in Pro Sound News, inquiring about a shop tech. I called them and was connected to Lester Burton. We chatted and decided it was a good idea to visit the Dallas Office/Warehouse, so I flew up there and met Lester, Ken "The Dood" Hergenrader, and Richard Bratcher. I was hired on the spot and taken to a clinic for a physical! I'll never forget the vast amount of gear they had. I came from a smaller sound company that had 6 amp racks total, whereas that day, I counted at least 50 plus amp racks. I knew it was the right place for me, as I wanted to work for the best”. - Joe

Still in the Industry: Principal, Sound and Vision Entertainment

1972 - 1979

Woodshop

​

Tour Crew: Tech (Audio)

1994-2001

Artists/Tours: The Rolling Stones; Luther Vandross; Alan Jackson; Stone Temple Pilots; Soundgarden

1985-2002

1995-2000

1977

Showco/Vari-Lite: Lighting

1986-1992

Cameo; Madonna; Pink Floyd; Boeing; Hayworth; Winter Olympics; Carnegie Hall; Barbara Mandrell; Atlantic Records; Dirty Dancing; Prince; Atlantis Productions; Mike & the Mechanics; The Who; The Rolling Stones; Hollywood Rock; Vacation; IBM; Janet Jackson; New Kids on the Block; Whitney Houston; Rock in Rio; Rod Stewart

​

​

Staff: Monitor Engineer; Tech (Audio)

1985-1991

Started in sound in Chicago and followed friends Randy Hutson and Pete Buess to Showco. He was sent straight out to replace someone on an Aerosmith tour—his baptism by fire. After marrying Jayne, whom he met on a Showco tour, he moved to England and later worked in production roles.

Artists/Tours: Aerosmith; The Beach Boys; Eric Clapton; The Kinks; Phil Collins; Genesis; Willie Nelson; Linda Ronstadt; R.E.M.; Bob Seger; Mike + The Mechanics; Torvill & Dean

1978-1981

​

​

Accounting/Visionary

1973

1989-1993

Still in the Industry

​

Tour Crew: Electronics; R&D; Sound Engineer

1970

Still in the Industry

1971-1972

Part-time; soldering, building cables, drove “Myrtle” truck, FOH engineer with Chuck Conrad.

Broke barriers for women in touring PA; later started Crossroads Audio.

Lighting

1976-1979

1970-1973

Receptionist

1977-1981

1989-1996

Behind the name Vari-Lite.

1979-1981

1976

Tour Crew / Vari-Lite: FOH Engineer; Monitor Engineer; Tech (Audio); Shop/Bench

1987 (Vari-Lite contractual); 2000-approximately 2006

Started at Vari-Lite in 1987, changing amp connectors on cable runs to Pyle National. That sparked an interest in lighting, followed by theatre lighting studies and later audio work. He eventually applied at Showco, was hired on the spot and was hooked after his first full national tour.

Artists/Tours: Christina Aguilera; Beyoncé; Lifehouse; Papa Roach; Ozzfest; Farm Aid; Michelle Branch

Building maintenance; electrician

1975-1980

Tour Crew / Vari-Lite: Tech (Lighting)

1975-1980

Artists/Tours: Paul McCartney and Wings Over America (1976, technical lighting director/spotlight caller); Linda Ronstadt (1977, senior lighting engineer); David Bowie (1978 World Tour)

​

Dates: 1984–1986

Role: Tour Crew — FOH Engineer; Monitor Engineer; Systems Engineer; Audio Tech

Dates: 1992–1997

Artists/Tours: Genesis (We Can’t Dance, 1992); Harry Connick Jr.; Ozzy Osbourne; Ministry; Reba McEntire; Alice in Chains; Festival Viña del Mar; Gin Blossoms; The ROAD; Stone Temple Pilots; The Moody Blues; Santana; Megadeth; Santana/Jeff Beck; R.O.A.R. Tour

Dates: 1979–1982

​

Tour Crew: Woodshop

1978–1980

Worked in the woodshop alongside Hans, Tommy Turner, and Dick Lindberg, under Fuzzy.

Dates: 1978–1983

Dates: 1976–?

Needs Verification

Dates: 1976

​

​

Dates: 1977–1981

​

Tour Crew: Monitors, Audio

1979–1986

Still in the Industry: Dallas Cowboys Corporate Office (The Star)

​

Dates: 1976–1977

​

Dates: 1977

Dates: 1980–1997

Dates: 1999–2001

Dates: 1993–2000

Dates: 1977

​

Dates: 1976

1975-1977

Role: Woodshop/Metal Shop

Dates: 1975–1979

Shop/PA/Monitors

1988-1990

Built Prism PA and monitors; worked in the Recone Room with Randy Birch. Never toured. Shares a humorous note about coming from a small cotton-farming community near Lubbock and being out of his element at that level.

Accounting

Dates: 1974–1975

Lighting Department

1978-1981

Role: Accounting

​

​

Tour Crew: Production Manager/Stage Design

Various Years of Service

​

​

1977

Role: Audio Engineer

Dates: 1978–1994

​

Role: FOH

Artists/Tours: Rick James; Gap Band; Point Blank

Dates: 1976

Dates: 1977

Dates: 1976

Dates: 1976–1977

​

Role: Audio

Dates: 1974–1978

Artists/Tours: Led Zeppelin; Bad Company; Steve Miller; Dave Mason; Uriah Heep; The Osmonds; George Benson; Nazareth

​

Dates: 1977

1986–1990

Engineer

Dates: 1974

​

​

Tour Crew: Sound & Operations

1973-1982

1978-1979

Electronics

Built Superboards

​

Vari-Lite

1982-1986

Audio Tech

Audio Tech

1980s Sound & Lights, later Sound Staff
Worked with Chris, Kirby, George Wheatley, and Mike Ponczek; monitors, FOH, and the Prism system. Now in Olympia, Washington, where she owns a recording studio.

1985-1987

Electronics
1976-1980
Hired by Jim Bornhorst right out of school to work in the electronics shop building Superboards G and H with Robin Magruder, Linda “Lunar” Johnson, and Tom Walsh. Later ran lighting electronics under Kirby Wyatt, operated the StudShowco Alumer 24-track mobile recorder, and mixed FOH on several tours, including Willie Nelson.
Artists/Tours: The Rolling Stones; The Who; Willie & Family Live; Freddie King & Eric Clapton; Genesis (CNE); Art Garfunkel; The Beach Boys; Bonnie Raitt; Waylon Jennings; Mardi Gras in the Superdome; Willie Nelson; Leon Russell; Stephen Stills; Phoebe Snow; Robert Palmer

1980-2000+Description goes here

1973-1977

1977

1976-1977

1990-2005

1988-2000

1976

1975

Accounting — 1977-1981

1988-2000+

1991-1995

Tour Crew / Vari-Lite: Monitor Engineer; Systems Engineer; Tech (Audio); Tech (Lighting) — 1978-79 and 1988-1998

Tour Crew: Lighting Engineer — 76-81

1986-1994

1979-1984 / 1990-1991

1980-1990

Vari-Lite / Dept 50: Woodshop; VL Assy — 1981-1991

1993-1995

1976-1984

Vari-Lite: Lighting Engineer; Tech (Lighting) — 1988-1998

1977-1978

1986-2000+

Tour Crew: Lighting Engineer; Tech (Lighting); Lighting Engineer Tech (Lighting) — 1976-1980

1969-1978

1977

1996-2000

Electronics tech — 1979-1980 / 1982-1990

1971-1974

Tour Crew: FOH Sound Mixer; System Engineer; Crew Chief; Audio & Recording Engineer — 1978-1980

Booking

1974-1975

1977-1977

1994-1997

Audio Technician — 1976

1974-1975

Carpenter

1970-1973

1986-2000+

Switchboard/Receptionist

Tour Crew: Tech (Lighting); Lighting Engineer — 1978-1980

1975

Audio — 1978-1993

1977

1974

1972-1973

1977-1980

Tour Crew / Staff: Tech (Lighting); Shop/Bench; Director Laser Services — 1977-1980

Audio — 1984-1986

1978-1980

1977-1976

Electronics/Welder — 1973-1981

Tour Crew: FOH Sound Engineer; Systems Engineer — 1982-1994

Tour Crew: FOH — 1971-1979

1986-1995

1974 / 1986-1995

1994-2005

1994-2005

Lighting; Stage Design

1984-1994

Tour Crew: Monitor Engineer — 1978-1984

Vari-Lite / Staff: Lighting Engineer Tech (Lighting) Lighting Designer / Sr. Scientist V.L. Engineering — 1984-1999

Tour Crew: Senior Engineer — 1974-1986

Tour Crew / Staff: FOH Engineer; Monitor Engineer; Systems Engineer; Tech (Audio) — 1979-1998

1976-1977

Human Resources - Showco/Vari-Lite

1982-1991

1976

Accounting/Payroll

1977

1972-1975

Roadie/Photographer — 1976-1999

Tour Crew: FOH Engineer — 1976-1991

Tour Crew: Trucking — 1978

Travel/Production — 1976-1979

1971

Monitors — 1972-1974

1976-1977

1977

Transportation

Lighting — 1976-2002

1984-1988

Tour Crew: Driver — 1978-1980

Shop Manager; Tour Tech; Consultant — 1983-1993

Audio/Touring — 1972-1977

Trucking — 1976-1978

Various (Grunt; Roadie; Monitor Engr; FOH Engr; E-Shop Mgr; Ops Mgr; VP Ops; Sr. VP Sales/Mktg; Exec VP/GM/Director) — 1971-2000

Tour Crew: FOH Engineer; Monitor Engineer; Tech (Audio) — 1996-2026

1976

1976-1983

Lighting — 1986-1990

Manufacturing — 1978-1980

SHOWCO co-founder; audio/recording engineer — 1970-2000+

1979-1992

1977

Monitors — 1987-1997

Tour Crew: Accounting; Business Manager (SHOWCO Creative Services) — 1979-2000

1984-1997

Staff / Contractor: Tech (Lighting); Management — February 1973-September 1983

Accounting

1975

Sound Department — 1979-1980

Tour Crew / Staff: Tech (Audio); Management; Office; Tech (Audio) Management Office — 1966 prior to and 1970-1977

Monitor Mixer — 1996-2002

1971-1977

1970-1981

1977

1976-1977

Tour Crew: Lighting Engineer; Tech (Lighting); Lighting Engineer Tech (Lighting) — 1971-1972

Lighting Crew — 1975-1980

1976

1989-2000+

Metal Shop — 1975-1980

Tour Crew

1976

1983-1987

1976

1976

1979-1994

1977

Office: Acccounting

1994-2001

1976

1976

Engineer — 1979-1984

Office / Staff: Office — 1979

1973-1976 Receptionist; Purchasing Agent

Tour Crew: Monitor Engineer; Tech (Audio); Tech (Lighting); Rigger; Driver; Transportation Supervisor — 79-81

Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash survivor

Staff: Tech (Audio); Shop/Bench; Tech (Audio) Shop/Bench — 1989-1991

Promoter (Concerts West); Vice President/Sales (Showco); Vice President (Syncrolite) — 1969-1978 / 1991-2016 (Syncrolite)

Promoter, Concerts West (1969–1972). Vice President/Sales, Showco (1972–1978). Vice President, Syncrolite (1991–2016).

Engineer — 1989-2000

Electrical — 1977-1979

Grew up in Shreveport; moved to Dallas in 1974 to study electronics at DeVry. Met Showco folks including Mike Garvey and Al Priest. Worked at BMC Guitars while in school; connected with Showco alum Gary Carnes (also Freddie King's roadie). Refinished Jack Calmes' Stratocaster and worked on guitars for major artists; sold guitars to multiple rock icons. Helped run sound at the Granada Theater when it became a concert venue (system designed by Mike Garvey using Showco garage-sale gear), where he learned monitor mixing. Later worked in the Electric shop; spent time as a rep for Rothschild Music; then guitar tech for Point Blank. Spent 12 years at Bernhard Brown touring and doing one-offs; later freelanced and eventually moved on to Alford.

1979-1981 / 1992-1997

1971-1973

1971-1975

1976-1977

Driver/Trucking — 1976-1978

Freelance engineer

1976

1977-1977

1977

1978-1980

Manufacturing

Shop Manager — 1970-1980

SHOWCO Shop Manager talks Showco (edit: band mentioned in Ft. Worth is BloodRock, not DOA).

1976

Sound Engineer / Sales — 1976-2000+

Clair Brothers. Learn more.

Staff employee, Tour Crew (Showco) Tech (Audio), Shop/Bench

1999-2006

Ozzfest '02, '03, '05; ZZ Top '04; Korn '06 (Numerous one-off events (too many to count)) Gig - Ozzfest; Innovation - Showconsole

Vari-Lite Tech (Lighting)

1988

Van Halen -- OU812 -- V*L Tech

1976-1976

1986-2000+

Electrical Gripper — 1971-1972

Artists/Tours: Blue Oyster Cult; The Who

Musician: Alexis

Tour Crew: Tech (Lighting) — 1973-1975

Artists/Tours: Led Zeppelin (1973, lighting tech); The Guess Who (1974, lighting tech); Wishbone Ash (1974, lighting tech); Led Zeppelin (1975, lighting tech)

Still in the Industry: Biz Dev for production and live streaming company

1979-1980

Lighting 79-80; VL 93-05

Tour Crew: Monitors

Cable Technician; Vari-Lite; Showco — 1980s

Worked as a cable technician at Vari-Lite, then moved over to Showco. Loved the time there and worked with hard-working people who became lifelong friends.

1973-1974

Obituary

1971-1973

Tour Crew: Monitor Engineer — 1976-2004

Artists/Tours: Black Oak Arkansas (1st tour); Elvin Bishop; AWB; Ali-Spinks (New Orleans); Genesis; Jackson Browne; Havana Jam; The Clash; Judas Priest; The New Barbarians; Bee Gees; Blues Brothers; The Who; The Rolling Stones; Van Halen; US Festival; Aerosmith; ZZ Top; Julian Lennon; Boston; Stevie Ray Vaughan & Jeff Beck; Joe Satriani; Bob Dylan; Soundgarden; Bad Company; Black Sabbath; Live; Audioslave; Van Halen (last tour)

1972-1975

1991 / 1994

Freelance audio

Worked as a guitar roadie with the Who, the Stones & others

1977

1976

Audio

Electronics, 73-76

Lighting (Vari-lite)

Still in the Industry

1977-1977

Staff: Shop/Bench — 1992-1993

Shop Only

Tour Crew: Tech (Lighting); Lighting Engineer — 1972-1975

Artists/Tours: Cat Stevens (Catch Bull at 4 Tour, 1973); Led Zeppelin (1973–1975 tours); Joe Cocker (Hollywood Bowl 1973); Bread (1974); The Carpenters (1974); Black Oak Arkansas (1974); ZZ Top (1975); Leon Russell (1974–1975 tours); Dr. John (Harlingen, TX one show); Steve Miller Band (1975); California Jam (1974); Tampa, FL Festival (1974)

Biography: One of the original three lighting crew when Showco first started providing lighting. A friend of Jack Maxson who joined early on; toured and did lighting for many groups. Also a photographer and took many show photos.

Still in the Industry: Owner of a commercial/residential lighting company

1975-1979

Tour Crew / Staff: Shop/Bench — 1972-1974 then on and off till 1979

Artists/Tours: Guess Who (1972); ZZ Top (1973 monitors); Beach Boys (1973 light roadie); Led Zeppelin (1973 outdoor shows); Leon Russell (1973 road crew); James Taylor; Linda Ronstadt (1974 light roadie); Led Zeppelin (1975 shop and road crew); Bee Gees (1979 shop)

Biography: Helped create the Showco we all know by being there in the early years and all the innovations we were known for

Wood shop mostly 1972-1979

1977

Tour Crew: FOH mixer; System Engineer — 1990-1991

Artists/Tours: Linda Ronstadt; Rock In Rio II; Electric Light Orchestra Part II

Tour Crew: Sound Engineer — 1974-1989

1978-1982

Sound Engineer — 1972-1980

Artists/Tours: Led Zeppelin; The Rolling Stones; Climax Blues Band; and more

Biography: Such a great man. He taught me so much about the art of 'mixing' live festival sound...Thanks for the memories... - Richard Martinez, 2004.

Showco and Vari-Lite — 1983-1987

Artists/Tours: Willie Nelson; Beach Boys; Kenny Loggins; Head East; Four Tops and Temptations; Richard Simmons; Alabama; Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic; David Bowie; The Tubes; Genesis (Mama Tour); Laurie Anderson; Diana Ross; George Strait; East of Dallas (private party); The Romantics; Mary Kay

Showco and Vari-Lite: Sales; President — 1982-1989

Musician: Ethos — acoustic/electric guitars, vocals

Tour Crew: Monitor Engineer; Systems Engineer — 1979-1984 (I think)

Artists/Tours: Linda Ronstadt (1981, systems engineer); Van Halen (1980-1983, systems engineer); Rolling Stones (1980-1983, systems engineer); James Taylor (1979-1984, systems engineer); The Babys (1981, monitor engineer); Jimmy Buffett (1982, systems engineer); Parliament Funkadelic (monitor engineer); The Gap Band (monitor engineer); Miller Concerts on the Pier (summer 1983, FOH); Mary Kay Cosmetics (multiple Production Division tours and shows); plus fill-in work (Kinks; ZZ Top; Beach Boys; etc.)

Biography: BJ hired me right after a tour with Utopia as monitor engineer; sent me to DK to verify skills. First day sent me to load a tour at 9011 with three of the biggest guys he’d worked with (Blake Dewberry the smallest) to see if the “little yankee” could keep up. Did extensive touring and fill-in work; also did many Mary Kay dates as monitor engineer. Left after Van Halen broke up and moved to Rochester, NY; later shifted into installed sound design and then the computer industry (systems engineer/architect), continuing there.

Still in the Industry: Business Systems Analyst

1987-1989

Accounting/Production Secretary — 1972-1976 / 1980-1998

1979-1981

Monitors — 1974

Artists/Tours: Uriah Heep; + more

Biography: Anecdote via Bill "Doc" Gans (2018): Sinardi was monitor mixer; during a first FOH gig with Uriah Heep, David Byron threw a 548 at him and almost hit him; the next day Byron brought him a new motorcycle helmet.

Lighting Consultant; Designer; Production Mgr. — 1974-1996

Artists/Tours: ZZ Top; Lynyrd Skynyrd; Led Zeppelin

Biography: Lighting Consultant (Showco/Vari-Lite) Nov 1974–Apr 1996. Lighting Designer (ZZ Top) May 1983–Dec 1997. Production Manager (House of Blues Concerts) Nov 1998–Oct 2006. Operations/Production Manager at Smirnoff Music Centre. Owner, Production Personnel Services (2001–2017). Worked alongside Donnie (DK) Kretzschmar on many tours; close family friend; passed in 2017. Obituary

Tour Crew: Tech (Audio) — 1995-1999

Artists/Tours: Alan Jackson; Ozzy Osbourne; ROAR

Sales Manager

Lighting

Engineer — 1989-2000

Biography: Remembers the Rolling Stones tour in 1989 using the Prism Blue cabinet (serial #1) with a plate dedicated to Donnie Kretzschmar. Benji insisted it be used at every gig. Thanks for keeping the memory of those who came before alive.

Still in the Industry

Contractor: Tech (Audio) — 1976-1978

Artists/Tours: Lynyrd Skynyrd; Kansas; Robin Trower; Ted Nugent

Biography: Hired part-time as a tech.

Still in the Industry: Company owner

Lighting

1969-1972

Shop Secretary 1970-1971; advance team for Pocono Pop Festival; photographer at Texas IPOP Festival; classical musician; arts administrator; global performer

Tour Crew: Monitors; FOH Engineer — Various (1975-1983)

Artists/Tours: Richard Pryor; Thin Lizzy; Mary Kay; Rufus & Chaka Khan; Rolling Stones; The Who; Wings; Bentwood Spectacular (Horse Auction); The Kinks; The Babys; CBS Convention; Bugs Henderson; Joel Gray; Joe Ely; US Festival; Leon Redbone; Jerry Seinfeld; ZZ Top; The Sparkplugs; New Orleans Festival; Beach Boys; Ray Charles; Kenny Loggins; James Taylor; Mardi Gras; Diana Ross; Waylon & Friends; Gatlin Brothers & Friends; Blues Brothers; Linda Ronstadt; Doug Kershaw; Kim Carnes; Van Halen; Saga

Biography: Roy talks about the Peter Gabriel 1977 tour. Obituary

1976

Monitors — 1978-1993

1977

Operations Manager

Still in the Industry: Director of Operations/Chief Engineer and partner/officer at Crossroads Audio

1976

Tech Talks — 1978-1981

Driver — 1971-1979

1978-1985

Warehouse; Woodshop — 1979-1984

Artists/Tours: Led Zeppelin (1977); Commodores (1980); ZZ Top; Blues Brothers; The Kinks; Linda Ronstadt; Led Zeppelin

Biography: Worked 1979–1984 across warehouse/woodshop; was a gopher for purchasing and worked with JR and Mike (The Gunther). Worked on stages/PA with the woodworkers, including Lester. Remembers the Pyramid 9000 system, safety meetings behind the dumpster by the RR tracks, and picking up gear from Dallas Backup for tours and live demos.

Still in the Industry: Undercover Productions

Warehouse + Tour Electrician on Bee Gees 1979

1976-1977

1979-1980

1975

Monitor Mixer — 1992-2000

Electronics

Vari-Lite

1981-1992

1972

1975-1977

Still in the Industry

Obituary

Tour Crew: Roadie; Sound — 1972-1977 / 1980-1982

Artists/Tours: ZZ Top; Grand Funk Railroad; Joe Cocker/Leon; Guess Who; Willie Nelson; Bread; T Rex; James Taylor; Led Zeppelin; War; The Kinks; Linda Ronstadt; Eric Clapton; Black Oak Arkansas

Still in the Industry

Tour Crew: Tech (Audio); FOH engineer — June 1994-August 1996

Artists/Tours: Eric Clapton (From the Cradle, 1994); Farm Aid (1994, Superdome - New Orleans); Vince Gill (1995; 1996); Farm Aid (1996, Williams-Brice Stadium - Columbia, SC)

Lighting

CFO

1995-2000

1977-1990

Audio tech

IT

1985-1990

Lighting

Driver

Tour Crew: Monitor Engineer; Tech (Audio); Driver — 1973-1974

Tour Crew / Client Sound Engineer: Monitor Engineer — 1986-1995

Switchboard/Reception

Lighting — 1977-1995

Lighting

1975

Rigging; logistics; audio tech

1976

Monitors — 1980-1986

Monitor Engineer/Grunt — 1974-1975

1977

Monitors — 1977

Lynyrd Skynyrd was Paul’s first gig with Showco. He was a survivor of the plane crash.

1977-1987

1971-1978

1971-1978

1976-1977

Tour Crew — 1975-1980

1977

1989-1999

1977-1979

1972-2013

1977-1977

Transportation

Nanny for Genesis (1977); Showco Family

Tour Crew / Staff: Tech (Audio) Tech (Lighting) Driver Office — 1973

Sales Executive (Showco/Vari-Lite) — 1985-1992

1977

Tour Crew: FOH Engineer — 1990-1991

1993-2004

1977

Shop/Drive Rack

Vice President (SHOWCO Creative Services); SHOWCO Conventional Lighting Department — 1971-1995

1973-1976

1965-1970

Grip Helper — 1970s

1985-1991

Tour Crew / Vari-Lite: Sound Roadie